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Overview

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Entertainment Weekly’s 20 New Books to Read in SeptemberNylon’s 12 Great New Books To Read This SeptemberNewsweek’s Best Books to Read in September 2018Paste's 12 Best Novels of 2018Library Journal’s Best Debut Novels of 2018BookPage’s Most Anticipated Fall 2018 Fiction

In his much-anticipated debut novel, Hank Green—cocreator of Crash Course, Vlogbrothers, and SciShow—spins a sweeping, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realizing she's part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined.

The Carls just appeared.

Roaming through New York City at three a.m., twenty-three-year-old April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship—like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armor—April and her friend, Andy, make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world—from Beijing to Buenos Aires—and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight.

Seizing the opportunity to make her mark on the world, April now has to deal with the consequences her new particular brand of fame has on her relationships, her safety, and her own identity. And all eyes are on April to figure out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us.

Compulsively entertaining and powerfully relevant, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing grapples with big themes, including how the social internet is changing fame, rhetoric, and radicalization; how our culture deals with fear and uncertainty; and how vilification and adoration spring for the same dehumanization that follows a life in the public eye. The beginning of an exciting fiction career, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a bold and insightful novel of now.

Product Details

About the Author

Hank Green is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. He's also the CEO of Complexly, a production company that creates educational content, including Crash Course and SciShow, prompting The Washington Post to name him "one of America's most popular science teachers." Complexly's videos have been viewed more than two billion times on YouTube. Green cofounded a number of other small businesses, including DFTBA.com, which helps online creators make money by selling cool stuff to their communities; and VidCon, the world's largest conference for the online video community. In 2017, VidCon drew more than forty thousand attendees across three events in Anaheim, Amsterdam, and Australia. Hank and his brother, John, also started the Project for Awesome, which last year raised more than two million dollars for charities, including Save the Children and Partners in Health. Hank lives in Montana with his wife, son, and cat.

Editorial Reviews

07/09/2018The younger Vlogbrother (John Green is the other) draws on his passion for science and his experience as a “Tier 3” celebrity (“You’ll probably trend on Twitter if you die”) for a comic debut that combines science fiction and mystery with philosophical musings about the perils of internet fame. His main character, the unfortunately named April May, is a recent art-school grad who happens upon a 10-foot-tall robotic sculpture in the darkened streets of Lower Manhattan. Entranced, she summons Andy, a classmate with a video camera, and the two introduce the figure they dub Carl to the world via YouTube. April May becomes a celebrity but soon discovers that dozens of Carls have appeared in cities across the globe. As she and her friends search for an explanation, she struggles with her newfound addiction to fame and the damage it causes to her most important relationships. April May’s narration, which doesn’t fully work, is both self-effacing and contradictory: she bemoans how much she enjoys fame while cynically crafting a message stressing community, which she determines will best resonate with her fans, thus growing her fame. Though the ending is disappointing (it appears to be setting up a sequel), fans of Green’s YouTube channel will find his humor and perceptiveness intact in this novel. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a thrilling journey that takes a hard look at the power of fame and our willingness to separate a person from the brand. Green manages to blend humor, mystery and science fiction in his fast-paced debut novel.” —Associated Press

“A deceptively romp-y novel about mysterious samurai alien robot statues appearing all at once, everywhere that has hidden and absolutely remarkable depths....Green's understanding of the power and limits of social media is incomparable; what Douglas Coupland did for the elation and misery of the tech-bubble with Microserfs, Green does for YouTubers and other social media stars. It makes for a novel that's always charming, always fast-paced, but which is sneakily and uncomfortably ambivalent about the things it celebrates. It gallops to a startling and great ending (I read it all in one sitting) and lingers afterwards.”—Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing

“[An Absolutely Remarkable Thing] is perhaps as honest a look as we will ever get into the phenomenon of cyberfame, and Green balances this careful introspection with a plotline that is both fun and mysterious, puzzling and compelling… Green quickly proves himself adept not only at playing into our 2018 anxiety and love/hate relationship with social media, but also at driving suspense, world-building and a true love for science fiction.” —Bookreporter

“With this comic story about the ugly side of Internet fame, Green gives his brother...a run for his money.”—People

“[Green] applies wit, affection, and cultural intelligence to a comic sci-fi novel....A fun, contemporary adventure that cares about who we are as humans, especially when faced with remarkable events.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Led by an earnestly flawed, bisexual heroine with direction and commitment issues, coupled with an abundant generosity of spirit, this read is timely and sorely needed. Highly recommended.”—Library Journal (starred review), Fall 2018 Best Debut Novels

“Green makes an entertaining book debut in this fast-paced, witty first contact novel…At once funny, exciting, and a tad terrifying, this exploration of aliens and social media culture is bound to have wide appeal to readers interested in either theme.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Sparkling with mystery, humor and the uncanny, this is a fun read. But beneath its effervescent tone, more complex themes are at play.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“It’s not in the nature of a sci-fi comedy blockbuster to shift boulders in your soul. But with his debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, Hank Green pulls it off....There are still a few exceptionally remarkable things that rise above the rest of their absolutely remarkable peers. In the pages of An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, April’s discovery of New York Carl is one of these exceptions; in the real world, Green’s debut deserves to be another. [It] delivers unexpected delights and pathos…you will feel smarter and more complete for having read it.”—Paste Magazine, 12 Best Novels of 2018

“Green’s debut novel is an adventurous romp that combines science fiction and interpersonal drama to explore identity, relationships, a polarized world and the influence of media and popular opinion. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a fun, fast read that invites readers to contemplate their position in the modern world.”—BookPage

“An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is an extremely fun read. At every turn, you’ll be dying to know what happens next.”—Hello Giggles

“Packed with meditations on the nature of celebrity, social media, and the cultural response to the unknown.”—Harper Bazaar

“The genius of Hank Green's book lies in the way he skillfully mixes such a variety of topics and messages and melds them brilliantly into a gem of a first novel.” —News Tribune

“Both thought-provoking and entertaining… a laugh-out-loud, fast-paced story that is just plain fun to read.”—Shelf Awareness

“Surprises in its willingness to delve into the unknown and the unknowable, exploring how modern internet fame twists and chops reality and peoples’ lives via the story of twenty-something April May.”—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

“[A] smashing, fantastical debut... Step aside, John Green—it's time for Hank to take over the literary world.”—PopSugar, Best Books 2018

“You're about to meet somebody named April May who you're immediately going to want to be best friends with. And bonus, she spends all her time having incredible adventures with giant robots and dream puzzles and accidental Internet fame. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is pure book-joy.”—Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Magicians Trilogy

“Fun and full of truth. To be honest, I'm a little irritated at how good the book is. I don't need this kind of competition.”—Patrick Rothfuss, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kingkiller Chronicle“This is the book my teen self would have loved, and my adult self immediately obsessed over. I turned the pages of An Absolutely Remarkable Thing so quickly the pads of my thumbs were worn smooth by the time I finished it. It provokes the mind, tickles the spirit, and April May is the terribly relevant young protagonist we've been waiting for.”—Ashley C. Ford, writer

“Funny, thrilling, and an absolute blast to read. I knew Hank would be good at this, but I didn't know he would be this good on the first try.” —John Scalzi, New York Times bestselling author and Hugo Award winner

“By turns joyful, devastating, personal, zeitgeisty, modern, classic, fast-paced, and thoughtful, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing blew me away with its fresh take on first contact in this fragile, ever-connected world we live in. Quick but never shallow, it will stand as a snapshot of an era as well as just a darn good read.”—Catherynne M. Valente, author of The Refrigerator Monologues and Space Opera

“Hank Green hasn't just written a great mystery adventure (though he has), and he hasn't just written the most interesting meditation on the internet and fame I've ever seen (but he did that too), Hank has written a book in which the page-turning story and the fascinating ideas inform and support each other. This book expands your mind while taking you on a hell of a ride.” —Joseph Fink, author of Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn't Dead

From the Publisher

05/01/2018Crash Course channel cocreator Green debuts with twentyish April May making a video that shows her scrambling about a huge, transformer-like sculpture, the first of many worldwide. What do they mean, and how can April cope with the international attention her video brings?

Library Journal

★ 2018-06-18A young graphic artist inspires worldwide hysteria when she accidentally makes first contact with an alien.Famous multimedia wunderkind Green is brother to that John Green, so no pressure or anything on his debut novel. Luckily, he applies wit, affection, and cultural intelligence to a comic sci-fi novel suitable for adults and mature teens. It's endearing how fully he occupies his narrator, a 20-something bi artist named April May who is wasting her youth slaving at a Manhattan startup. On her way home late one night, April encounters an armored humanoid figure, which turns out to be alien in nature—"And I don't mean alien like ‘weird,' " she says. She phones her videographer friend Andy Skampt, who posts on YouTube a funny introduction to the robot she dubs Carl. April's life is turned upside down when the video goes massively viral and immovable Carls appear in cities around the world. After they discover a complex riddle involving the Queen song "Don't Stop Me Now," the mystery becomes a quest for April; Andy; April's roommate/kind-of-sort-of girlfriend, Maya; a scientist named Miranda; and April's new assistant, Robin, to figure out what the Carls are doing here. "None of us older than twenty-five years old, cruising down Santa Monica Boulevard, planning our press strategy for the announcement of First Contact with a space alien," says April. April and her friends are amiable goofballs and drawn genuinely for their age and time. Meanwhile, the story bobs along on adolescent humor and otherworldly phenomena seeded with very real threats, not least among them a professional hater named Peter Petrawicki and his feral followers. Green is clearly interested in how social media moves the needle on our culture, and he uses April's fame, choices, and moral quandaries to reflect on the rending of social fabric. Fortunately, this entertaining ride isn't over yet, as a cliffhanger ending makes clear.A fun, contemporary adventure that cares about who we are as humans, especially when faced with remarkable events.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: A Novel 3.7 out of 5based on
0 ratings.
20 reviews.

Anonymous

6 months ago

Couldn't put it down. Fun, engaging, trendy, weird (in a good way) and just plain interesting!! On the edge of my seat through most of it!!

LaynieBee-Blog

7 months ago

I’d like to start this review by making it clear that I have been a Nerdfighter (i.e. a part of the community that rallies around Hank and John, actively works to decrease world suck, and generally allows themselves to experience the joy of being excited about things) since the early days of their YouTube channel. I've since found myself watching their videos less and less, but still supporting their other endeavors. This, however, only sways my opinion slightly. Hank, to me, has always been the “left-brained” brother. I associate Hank with things like SciShow (an informative web series based around scientific topics) and songs about space and the universe. John is the bookish one. The one with the book club. The one with all the quotes about reading.
If the brothers were high school teachers, Hank would be math and science and John would handle the English and history. So naturally when I found out Hank was releasing a book, I thought it would be non-fiction. Maybe about the universe, or how science has changed the world.
I was very worried when I found out it was fiction. Would it be another John Green novel? Would it live up to the standard that I have come to expect from the Greens? Would I have to pretend to like it while actually DNFing it?
So, while I saw the hype, I shied away from learning too much about it. In fact, I didn’t even read the description until after I started the book. I did see pictures of the statues at BookCon, because, well those were hard to miss but I had no idea what I was in for and, honestly, I kind of like that it happend that way.
Right off the bat I came to several conclusions. One: This is most definitely not a John Green novel. The age of the protagonist (early 20s) is one of the determining factors of this, as is the SciFi aspect. But the voice is what really sets it apart. The MC of most John Green novels is a incredibly self reflective, almost brooding, introvert with a quirky side. April May, the MC of this novel, is in-your-face spunky and incredibly outgoing. She takes pride in being fun, carefree, and never too serious. Obviously there is some introspection, but usually at the cost of making fun of herself.
Two: I wasn’t going to be able to stop reading even if I tried. Much to the dismay of my friends, family, and employer, I walked around in an AART haze until I finished the book. Wait. No. Scratch that. I am still in an AART haze.
Hank pulls you into this world that almost feels like it could happen. He makes you feel for the inanimate objects and April May. As April grows and her character arc develops, she starts to point out many things that make you stop and think. About the world. About people. About yourself and what you truly desire and what you are really scared of.
What, on the surface, is just a book about a few metal robot statues and a quirky graphic designer turned vlogger is actually both a love letter and a warning to/about the Internet and Internet fame. How it brings people together, but can also tear them apart. About how addictive fame can be and how it feels to continuously chase the next thing that will keep you relevant so as not to lose your audience.
April May and the story of the immovable robots that show up in the middle of the night, isn’t actually the story here. This novel is more about the way the community either rallies behind or against them. It’s a story of humanity and togetherness. Working towards a common goal with your fellow man. Looking

Anonymous

7 months ago

Awesome! I hope Mr.Green does a sequel!

Anonymous

7 months ago

Way to go, Hank!!!!!

AdelineMirren

21 days ago

This book was really interesting, and a fast read. The characters were very relatable and the concept of the book was fun and weid.

Anonymous

23 days ago

I+couldn%27t++get+beyond+180.+I+found+the+book+very+dull.

Rylea_Anderson

4 months ago

April May, a bisexual university-educated graphic artist who is in a relationship with a woman, discovers what she thinks is a work of art on the streets of Manhattan one very early morning on her way home from work. On a whim, she and her best friend make a YouTube video about it that launches them both into the world of YouTube superstardom. Together with a small group of her friends, they solve the mystery of the alien-thing they named “Carl” and share it with the world.
I’m going to start with all the things I loved about this book. The protagonist and cast of characters are diverse, intelligent, and interesting. I am in love with the idea of a book that reflects the landscape of twenty-somethings as I know them, not only the subset of heterosexual white people. They are educated. They are nerds. They use the internet and social media as a primary means of connection. They do not have their shit together.
Even so, I felt myself emotionally holding this book at arms-length. The first third of the book felt like name-dropping gaming, esports, and nerd fandoms as a way to gain my trust or interest early and not as natural character development. I *hated* April May and I never stopped hating her. While she held agency as the protagonist, which I value as a woman reading about women, she was just not all that interesting.
As a whole, the book felt like Green was plugging plot points into an equation in order to write a hip, modern novel with a diverse cast. Maybe this is not all that surprising given that he is a chemist with firsthand knowledge about streaming, Youtube, and managing social media as a brand. Then again, with firsthand knowledge, I wanted to feel the emotional connection and some sort of investment in what happens to these characters. I just didn’t.
Tl;dr: I liked it. I didn’t love it.

Anonymous

4 months ago

I purchased this book because I love listening to the Green brothers on YouTube. I didn't make it past the third chapter before I gave up on the childish writing style and the endeavor to include as much risqué material as possible without causing too much alarm. It's as if it was written by the kid at school who tries to use swear words to keep up with the "in crowd". Also it was quite a forced representation of the LGBT/ feminist/black lives movements all wrapped up into one character as if to make sure it could be accepted by the majority of millennials. The very first page warns of the "drama" and the character's unapologetic attitude towards what she has to say. I have no comment to make on political movements here, but I do not wish to encounter these issues every time I open a book- especially a fiction novel. From the beginning I was annoyed by the main character rather than interested in what she might have to offer. It might have been a good read if it had not stuck its toes in political waters.

Anonymous

4 months ago

I really hope there's a sequel for the big unanswered questions!

piesmom

4 months ago

A different kind of novel. This novel had humor and fantasy and a unique perspective while also being dark. I wasn't going to buy the book but I enjoyed the last Barnes & Noble book club so I went for it. It was definitely worth reading. The character of April May was engaging, flaws and all.
There was a certain sociological, political angle to the novel as well. I thought Hank Green did an awesome job of describing the way fame brings fans and haters of the world and of how that divide can turn suddenly wrong. I would have given the novel 5 stars because it was definitely better than 4 but I wasn't crazy about the ending.
BTW. it turned out I had a conflicting benefit to attend so I never got to the Book Club. I so wanted to discuss the novel further.

alexcan3

4 months ago

Like nothing I have ever read. Interesting. Intriguing, Fun. A page-turner. Give it a try!

Barb1966

5 months ago

Would not put on my top 10 list but it was an interesting book. I wanted to give up on it, but for some reason it kept pulling me in, so I'm glad I finished it. I would call it an "intriguing" book. Would make a good movie. It is geared more toward the younger adult (20 - 40 year olds). I think there will be a sequel but I'm not sure I would buy it. Might go to the library instead to get it.

Anonymous

5 months ago

The book is intriguing, I would love to read sequels and any other following. The book is easy to follow and the plot is twisty in its own way. I hope Green explore other perspectives in the story!

Anonymous

5 months ago

I thought it was kind of silly

Anonymous

5 months ago

I couldn't get through the first chapter. I normally try to give a book longer before throwing in the towel, but not with this one. the writing style, the content, subject - I just couldn't do it.

Piglet11

5 months ago

Hank Green knocked it out of the park with his first novel! An Absolutley Remarkable Thing was a great and surprising read with twist that I didn't see coming. This book was unpredictable and I couldn't put it down even when I needed to. I can't wait to see what/if Hank Green writes again.